[air-uh, ahy-ruh, air-ee, ahy-ree] 
[ahyuh
r-luhnd] | 1. | John, 1838–1918, U.S. Roman Catholic clergyman and social reformer, born in Ireland: archbishop of St. Paul, Minn., 1888–1918. |
| 2. | Also called Emerald Isle. Latin, Hibernia. a large western island of the British Isles, comprising Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. 4,991,556; 32,375 sq. mi. (83,850 sq. km). |
| 3. | Republic of. Formerly, Irish Free State (1922–37), Eire (1937–49). a republic occupying most of the island of Ireland. 3,555,500; 27,137 sq. mi. (70,285 sq. km). Capital: Dublin. Irish, Eire. |
| 4. | Heraldry. a coat of arms blazoned as follows: Azure, a harp or stringed argent. |
| Eir·e (âr'ə, ī'rə, âr'ē, ī'rē) See Ireland2. |
Island in the Atlantic Ocean separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea. It is divided into Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Note: It is called the “Emerald Isle” because of its lush green countryside.